On Martin Luther King Day, sports unifies, divides us as a nation

There will be many reflective twists and turns today about the significance of sports as the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Day.

Sports can heal racial tension. It can bind white and black as blood brothers. It is a powerful salve in times of tragedy: Witness the raising of a tattered 9/11 flag during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools," King once said.

"This is about Bill Belichick vs. Rex Ryan," Ryan said, part of the pre-playoff game bloodbath of quotes between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. "There's no question. It's personal."

I don't mean to sully Dr. King's good name with the contrast to the foolish, bombastic coach of the Jets.

But the point is relevant. Sports, by its very nature, is defined by ways that have nothing to do with Dr. King's call for passive resistance and compassion.

Sports is the great unifier. Sports is the great divider.

Sports can fuel contempt, anger and hatred. It stirs the inner kook in all of us. (Anyone who has ever worn face paint, please take a bow.)

One of my neighbors shaved his head into a Mr. T Mohawk this weekend and etched the word "Steelers" on the side of his head in honor of his favorite team, then went off to a sports bar to celebrate Pittsburgh's playoff victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

There is nothing wrong with any of this, although I will gladly take a pass on the Mohawk, thank you.

Sports makes us chose otherwise ugly color combinations and turn them into a passionate fashion statement. (Orange and blue curtains—really?) It turns brother against brother, Gator against Seminole, USA against the Soviet bloc. Sports is FrazierMuhammad-Ali, Nicklaus-Palmer, Auburn-Alabama, a bunch of USA hockey neophytes against the omnipotent Soviets.

We should embrace the best of both worlds as we celebrate Martin Luther King Day.

Can we have social compassion for our brothers while still trying to kick the snot out of him?

The ying-and-yang going on this week between the Jets and the Patriots did not undermine the integrity of the game, nor bring it down to the level of Neanderthals duking it out with sticks and stones.

It was simply unfriendly fire between great competitors and great teams.

Ryan, cornerback Antonio Cromartie and anybody else who chimed in were simply saying what everybody else does when they face a fierce rival.

You don't like him. It is personal. You want to crush them.

And despite all the yada-yada in print and in cyberspace, the worst that came of it was a few nasty words and Ryan's playful jab-punch at a TV camera before the game. Ryan also got the last punch in anyway, as the Jets bounced the Pats from the playoffs.

Everybody settled down and played an entertaining, clean game Sunday afternoon.

It was the best that sports has to offer, contentious crossfire included.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy," King once said.

The Patriots and the Jets were all about the challenge and the controversy Sunday afternoon.

In that regard, they honored Dr. King's legacy like true champions.

Some jeered, while others jeered, at the Jets' victory.

The unifying and dividing power of sports remains entrenched in our culture.